Workshop Short Story Writing Challenge

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Short Story Writing

• What is a short story - elements explained
  
• Examples of a short story
  
• Themes & Inspiration
  
• Writing 
  

Short story

1. Plot 
   
2. Setting 
   
3. Characters 
   
4. Theme
   

Short story

Plot

• introduction - setting (time/location), characters, narrative hook (statement that grabs attention)

• inciting incident - first major action, gets the ball rolling
  
• rising action - conflict (prevents main character from getting what (s)he wants)/ suspense
  
• climax - height of emotions/turning point
  
• falling action - completion of action/decision
  
• resolution - final workongs/narrative twist (surprise ending)
  

Climax

Height of emotions/turning point

Characters

• Protagonist - main character/we're rooting for him/her
  
• Antagonist - "bad guy"
  
• Secondary character(s)
  

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Another example

Write a short story

Write 2-3 pages 

• Think small (one event or incident/one day/one afternoon/2-3 characters)
  

• Use the setting and characters to convey meaning (2 poor kids in a shabby flat on Christmas eve sell their only belongings/conversation characters have/comments from narrator)
  

• Think of a theme (has anything ever happened that you want the reader to think about?)
  

• Outline the plot:
  

       intro (setting/characters/narrative hook) /inciting incident/conflict/climax/falling     action/resolution

• Use irony (dramatic irony - reader knows what's going to happen / verbal irony= opposite meaning)

Themes to inspire

• Jealousy (the grass is always greener on the other side of the hill- or is it?)
  
• Dependency (no man is an island - you can't do everything by yourself, you need others to help)
  
• Cultural differences /Prejudice
  
• Sacrifice
  
• Wealth 
  
• Obey parents
  

What have your learned about
short story writing?